Three tenderers shortlisted to deliver $700m Singleton Bypass project

A shortlist of tenderers has been announced for the design and construction of the New England Highway bypass of Singleton, taking the $700 million project a step closer to being built. 

The shortlisted tenderers for Singleton’s biggest infrastructure project to date include Acciona Constructions Australia Pty Ltd, Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd and John Holland Pty Ltd. 

“The Singleton Bypass will be a game0changer for residents, motorists and our freight network. 

“I am pleased to announce the shortlist of tenderers to help design and deliver this major project has come down to three companies. 

“Acciona Constructions Australia Pty Ltd, Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd and John Holland Pty Ltd are well qualified to deliver this project and provide value for money, with the contract expected to be announced in mid-2023,” NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Sam Farraway said. 

The planned Singleton bypass will help improve freight movement as well as traffic flow now and into the future. 

The New England Highway bypass of Singleton is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments, each contributing $560 million and $140 million respectively. 

Proposed Putty Road interchange (source: Singleton Bypass REF Web Portal)

Key features of the project include: 

• About eight kilometres of new highway with a single lane in each direction 
• A 1.8-kilometre bridge over the Main Northern Railway, Doughboy Hollow and Hunter River floodplains 
• Connections at the southern and northern ends of the bypass, at Putty Road and at Gowrie Gates 
• A 600-metre bridge as part of changes to the southern connection 

“The NSW Government has listened to the community and the bypass will include a full interchange with Putty Road and a new 600-metre-long bridge at the southern connection. 

“The project will also be designed to cater for a later upgrade to a dual carriageway where required to meet future traffic demands,” State Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell said. 

The preferred route option for the bypass was announced in 2016 and it will involve a new section of highway west of Singleton across the floodplain. The bypass will start near Newington Lane and rejoin the New England Highway north of McDougalls Hill. 

Early works on this multi-million-dollar project are anticipated to commence in late 2022, with the bypass to open to traffic in late 2026. 

“The bypass will remove one of the Hunter region’s most notorious bottlenecks. 

“The eight-kilometre project will bypass five sets of traffic lights in Singleton’s CBD and remove about 15,000 vehicles a day from the town centre, ease congestion and improve safety as well as deliver time savings for thousands of motorists each day. 

“It also delivers economic growth and will support more than 1,300 jobs during construction,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

Source: Transport for NSW (1, 2); NSW Government – Singleton Bypass REF Web Portal; Infrastructure Magazine; Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Prime Mover Magazine